The next chapter in Medicare: MACRA

June 10, 2016

Last year Congress passed historic legislation that finally repealed the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula in Medicare. The “Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act” or “MACRA” for short finally removed the yearly threat of a “doc fix” that could have jeopardized patients’ getting access to the care they needed.

Recently the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a proposed rule on MACRA which begins to outline the new payment program that will replace the flawed SGR formula. The rule further allows for telehealth and remote patient monitoring, and works to reduce the regulatory burden that has hindered the doctor-patient relationship.

The AMA continues to work tirelessly to ensure that MACRA implementation bolsters the sustainability of physician practices, that it breaks through unnecessary red tape and empowers physicians to provide the best possible care for patients.